A number of families were forced to evacuate their homes after a grenade was discovered during a house clearance.

Army bomb disposal experts were scrambled to the scene after the device, thought to date back to the Second World War, was found at the property in Coppice Lane, Quarry Bank in Dudley, West Midlands, yesterday.

Homes within 100 metres of the address were evacuated and a number of roads closed as an exclusion zone was set up by emergency workers.

The grenade was found at the former home of a pensioner which was being cleared by family members.

It was taken into the back garden of a neighbouring property before police were called at 7pm. Drivers and pedestrians were asked to avoid the areas by officers.

Inspector Mark Rushden, from West Midlands Police, said: "While we do not know if this a live grenade, military experts have told us to evacuate homes in the area.

"We apologise for any inconvenience caused but with things like this you can't be too careful."